FC Low Carb Challenge: Week 8 – Wine, Beer, Tequila? Definitely!

I can’t believe we are already starting month three of our low carb challenge. Our FC Low Carb Team has lost collectively hundreds of pounds and is just about to go into our final weeks of the challenge. We’ve learned so much together over these last few weeks about losing weight, eating healthy and even that a cheat day, now and then isn’t so bad. So, I thought now was a good time to talk about alcoholic beverages.

There have been times when we’ve all wanted a glass of wine or beer at the end of a long day, some days more than others. Most diets won’t allow it because of the high-calorie count. Here again, this is where low carbing being a lifestyle, not a diet comes into play. I’m pleased to tell you that there are many alcoholic beverages, which are low carb! That means, on our lifestyle plan you can partake in a few drinks now and then completely guilt free. But (I know, there’s always a but), you have to know what drinks are low carb friendly, so you don’t overdo it and ruin your 20 carbs or less rule.

Below are a few guidelines for you to keep in mind:

Your body burns alcohol before fat. So for some it can cause your weight loss to stall out, for others it may cause you to lose faster. So weigh in the morning before you decide to drink, then again 48 hours later to see which category you fall into.

After you’ve been low carbing for a while and then drink for the first time, it’s going to hit you much faster than you’re used to, so be sure to drink in moderation.

Not all alcohol is made the same. Check the carb counts in the brand of alcohol you are drinking. It’s easy, you can do it on Google, from your phone. You’ll be surprised at how the carb count changes from brand to brand.

So now that you know the basic rules let’s get to the fun stuff … the drinks.

As a general rule with harder alcohol, clear drinks, in particular, are usually lower in carbohydrates than darker spirits. That is just an estimate, though. As I said above also check the brand and type of alcohol before drinking to get an exact carb count.

Personally, I’m an ale lover. Give me a good dark ale, and I am a happy camper. Unfortunately, eating low carb you aren’t going to be drinking a good hoppy ale, they just have too many carbs. So I tend to stick with Michelob Ultra. Definitely not the deep ale I prefer, but the best tasting I’ve found with only 2.7 carbs per beer.

Below are some more beers to consider:

Bud Light: 6.6 carbs

Corona Light: 5 carbs

Killian’s Red Lager: 14.8 carbs

Heineken light: 6.8 carbs

Michelob Ultra Amber: 3.2 carbs

Sam Adam’s Light: 4.7 carbs

Budweiser: 3.2 carbs

Miller Genuine Draft Lite: 2.4 carbs

Rolling Rock Green Light: 6 carbs

Miller Light: 3.2 carbs

Coors Light: 5 carbs

Amstel Light: 5 carbs

Bud Light: 6.6 carbs

If you’re looking for wines or spirits, their carb counts run the gamut. I have a listing below of some general estimates of carbs per serving. But as with anything, check the carb count before you enjoy. For instance, plain vodka doesn’t have any carbs, but a vanilla whipped vodka is loaded with carbs. So always check the carb count before you drink anything. Better to be safe than sorry.

Carb estimates in wine:

Red Wines – Carbs per glass:

Merlot: 3.7 carbs

Pinot Noir: 3.4 carbs

Cabernet: 3.8 carbs

White Wines – Carbs per glass:

Chardonnay: 3.7 carbs

Pinot Grigio: 3.2 carbs

Riesling: 5.5 carbs

Champagne/Sparking whites: 1.5 carbs

Carb estimates in Spirits: Carbohydrates per shot (1.5oz):

Absinthe – 0g

Armagnac – 0g

Bourbon – 0g

Brandy – 0g

Cognac – 0g

Gin – 0g

Mezcal – 0g

Rum – 0g

Scotch – 0g

Tequila – 0g

Vodka – 0g

Whiskey – 0g

So now you’re fully informed and ready to enjoy that adult beverage. Oh, one last thing, you might want to have a few low carb snacks on hand whenever you’re partaking. Once you start drinking, your willpower may slip, and those tortilla chips may start looking a little better than they should. Have something on hand so if a snack attack happens, you won’t ruin your carb intake for the day. Remember, moderation is the key and never drink and drive.

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SA Smith has always loved the magical life. She is the bestselling Amazon author of FOREVER, her four part young adult paranormal romance series. She is an advocate for women of all shapes and sizes. Believing that we are all enough just as we are, and needing to spread that word far and wide. Having been diagnosed with CRPS over 12 years ago, SA also uses her writing to increase social awareness of the disease. Writing is her passion. She often tells friends that writing is a journey for her. It’s like spending time with friends. "I just follow my characters along on their adventures, like a fly on the wall, and see where they take me." SA currently lives in Florida with her best friend/husband and their one son.